Things That Make Me Go Hhmmm: Rocky Horror Picture Show

Frank-n-Furter is a negative take on trans people in a sex-negativist film, and why do we still watch it without harsher commentary? Yes, yer curmudgeonly gunkle is about to question the iconic and much-revered Rocky Horror Picture Show. "But Hank," you might say, "what has this venerable bastion of queerness, a stage show and film we have loved and cherished for fifty years now ever done to you?" Wow, fifty years, huh? Yes, the queen of all midnight movie screenings turns 50 this year, and, well, I have some issues. Yes, I am daring to take umbrage with this old workhorse. Why? Because in recent years, it's gotten the pass that we haven't afforded others, and I'm curious as to why that is.

 

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(Incidentally, you know who owns Rocky Horror Picture Show nowadays? Disney. DISNEY!!!)

Now, a little history first. I love the movie...to an extent. When I was a teen in New Orleans, I  first saw the midnight screening, complete with a water pistol, Melba toast, and a newspaper gripped firmly in hand. I would perform in front of the screen. I'd wave my giant Union Jack to clear the smoke from the pool at the end of the film. I was invested in all of it. I even participated in a 45-minute lip-synched version my HS forensics team did as a one-act play for a competition. At a Catholic school. With nuns!

As an adult, I created video effects for a stage version that a friend was directing and other friends were starring in. I've lost count of how many times I've seen it. But I have to admit, in the post #metoo era, and after witnessing years of a cold, hard look at negative depictions of queer characters and queer entertainment, I've been wondering of late why this film gets a pass for content we would long ago have eviscerated and "cancelled."

God, I hate that term. How about "appreciate but ignore now because we know better"?

 

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When Silence of the Lambs hit the screens, there was a huge backlash against the idea of a supposedly trans character who committed murder. I say "supposedly" because it's argued in the film and book that Buffalo Bill isn't trans due to his psychological makeup. Protestors were at the Academy Awards, where it won top prizes. Similarly, we go after other such deprictions of killer queers, from the "carnivorous flower" lesbians of early 20th century pulp novels and horror movies to any Peter Lorre character, from Looking For Mr. Goodbar to Cruising, Dressed To Kill to Basic Instinct and yes, even Transamerica (no there's no killing but it's still terrible, ask any trans female actress!). We take a good, hard look at our cinematic history and rightfully put such damaging, hurtful depictions in their proper place: sometimes examined for historical context, and sometimes right into the rubbish bin.

So why does Rocky Horror... get a pass? Why does Frank-n-Furter get to fuck and dispose of, literally, whomever he wants and we continue to revere his queerness as a libinous fun time party? Why has he been elevated to star status with many iterations of the live show, and that terrible live-for-TV version starring Laverne Cox and Adam Lambert? It boggles my mind what we've assailed in the past, yet let slide when it comes to this show.

My good friend and "Rocky Horror Scholar"  Steve-not-Reeves who directed that previously-mentioned show has spoken to me of his love for the show, and how it helped save him as a young queer kid growing up. He agrees with me in some aspects that Frank is the villain, always has been, and is equally confused by his elevation to hero status. Here's what he has to say about the show:

Frank is a metaphor for sex that’s repressed by 1973 heterosexual mainstream viewers. He’s technically the villain of the show. I do find it interesting that people now see him as the hero when he was the antagonist all along. He represents the unchained id and I think in a repressed society people long to have that.

Frank was never meant to be a trans icon as that concept did not exist back then. And I don’t like when people retroactively rewrite history to suit an agenda.

Rocky Horror is really the story of the sexual awakening of Janet Weiss.  Frank is just a catalyst like an impulse for her. He burned brightly and then burned out quickly. Yet now Janet has become her own woman.